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Well, we've brought it up in here before, maybe Parnell should work on throwing a slurve or curve instead of maybe using his slider and it was just reported he's been working with Izzy on a knuckle curve, the pitch that Izzy used when he came up as a Met. He used it a few times tonight and got a few swings and misses. Who knows, maybe he comes into spring training next year with a good curve. Never know, it could be that 2nd good, consistent pitch he's been looking for.

Needs to show a lot more than that. And while he gave up 2 unearned runs those were pretty poor runs to give up in that game. Parnell has simply failed to impress. He has been so bad he is forcing the GM to go looking outside for a closer.

New pitch, new pitcher?

So today he pitched to six batters, got them all out. And now I'm hearing he learned a knuckle-curve from Jason Isringhausen, and that he's able to throw it effectively for strikes unlike a traditional curve ball, which Howie Rose said he was gripping the same as he would his slider.

Nornally I wouldnt be impressed with this occasional short term success. He's done that many times, only to revert back to his inconsistent self.

But I admit, now I'm intrigued. Anyone think this knuckle curve could turn him into the real deal we've been waiting to see since 2008 or is this just one more time when we'll be deceived?

"Ain't got the call no more. Got a lot of sinful idears – but they seem kinda sensible...."

So today he pitched to six batters, got them all out. And now I'm hearing he learned a knuckle-curve from Jason Isringhausen, and that he's able to throw it effectively for strikes unlike a traditional curve ball, which Howie Rose said he was gripping the same as he would his slider.

Nornally I wouldnt be impressed with this occasional short term success. He's done that many times, only to revert back to his inconsistent self.

But I admit, now I'm intrigued. Anyone think this knuckle curve could turn him into the real deal we've been waiting to see since 2008 or is this just one more time when we'll be deceived?

Yes!

Originally Posted by YoungStuna28

I think this new pitch can make him a beast, it will get hitters off his fastball.

Everyone agrees he needs another pitch to become effective. It's usually a changeup that pitchers try to develop but Parnell stated that he didn't believe he could throw one. If this knuckle curve works, great. it's a little hard to believe that he could have developed an effective one so quickly; but we'll see.

If he gets the curve over for strikes ,consistently, he can be lights out. He has the great FB, he just needs a secondary pitch that is a little slower to keep hitters off balance. If he comes to ST next year with this pitch, he'll have a chance to have a prominent role in the back of the bullpen.

Juts what I was going to say - players like Izzy have so much value in this department, particularly if a younger player really isn't making a connection with the coaches.

I'm sure this stuff happens so much more than we hear. It's got to have a phenomenal impact on some of the younger players, too. Keep Isringhausen...

The one main reson to keep a guy like Izzy is if you truly believe he can be effective still and that is it. To keep guys because he can teach younger guys something is something the Mets have have done many times when they signed old guys like Franco and guys like Cora and they just ended up being guys that while they help younger guys with how to handle themselves the team suffer because of their lack of production.

It is great that Izzy can help Parnell learn a new pitch, but that is no reason for him to get a job as part of the pen next year, he should sta only if he can be effective once again.